Runner's Footprints

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Motivational Speaker

Circle De Luz is a program in Charlotte, North Carolina designed to increase graduation rates among Latina students by mentoring, fostering, and encouraging Latinas from 8th to 12th grade to set high goals and pursue a higher education. Unfortunately, a big disparity exists between graduation rates and socioeconomic status. This program targets to change that and began in 2008 by volunteers who had a vision to make a difference in young girls lives. It has now grown with a board of directors, sponsors, and volunteers that have fostered sincere relationships with these young girls to prepare them to set very high goals for themselves and breakthrough the negative statistics.

I was asked and flown out to be their Keynote Speaker for this year's graduating class of 2014. I am sincerely honored and moved to hear these girls stories. It has been a great experience meeting everyone who has made Circle De Luz a possibility and touched to see there is hope and great things happening all across the US. I'll always remember these girls smiles and know big things will continue in the young aspiring minds. This is why I chose education. This is why I do what I do. If I can leave the world a little better before I leave, then I have found my purpose.

Always
Dream Big

Good evening everyone: dedicated directors, mentors, proud parents,
and graduates. I am very honored to be a part of your special day.

You all went though so much to make it to this day—the high and the
lows, the triumphs, the challenges, and even the harsh realities of our world.

The harsh reality is 41% of Latinas do not graduate with their class
after four years. 53% of Latinas will
become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 leading them to drop out of
high school or college. However, we are here to celebrate a shift in those
statistics. We are here to celebrate you.

I know you all have faced all kinds of doubts and uncertainties when
you first began this program. Let me tell you I know exactly where you are
coming from. My parents immigrated to this country a few months before my birth
with my sister leaving everything. They left their parents, their families,
their possessions…. Everything. They came with hope to find a better
opportunity for us.

My parents didn’t speak a word of English yet. My mom had not
graduated from high school. My father needed to start all over because they
didn’t honor any of his electrical training from Ecuador. What my parents did
have is the drive to make it. A cousin of ours opened his apartment to the four
of us—my dad, mom, sister, and myself—slept on one mattress in their living
room those beginning years. My mom began cleaning homes and working at a fast
food restaurant earning the CA minimum wage of $3.35 in 1984. My dad worked
from job to job early mornings to sometimes graveyard shifts while attending
night school to learn English. Sometimes there would be no work. Sometimes
minimum wage wasn’t enough, but my mom still found ways to cook and feed her
children sacrificing her meals often. She later told us there were many nights
she would go to bed hungry. I saw it in my parent’s hands then… and I can see
it in my parent’s hands now: the calluses of endless hours of physical labor to
try to make it. Despite how much we may have struggled financially, they always
came home and told me over and over: we are doing this so you don’t have to. Dream
big, work hard, and the opportunities will open.

Naturally, parents want their children to have a better life than they
did. They never let me settle for less than my best. So it began, I did
everything I could to be good at what I was doing. At that time as a little
girl, it was school. I read every book I could get my hands on. I spent summers
hours on end at the library or bookstore--studying, reading, and allowing my
mind to explore the possibility of what was out there. The more I learned, the
more I craved.

I didn’t know what was the new hip song at the time. I couldn’t tell
you what hot TV show everyone was talking about. I couldn’t even name the
mainstream movie stars. What I could do was create, explore, and challenge my
mind in ways most children couldn’t. I questioned everything. I explored and
researched everything. I still do… I would rush home from school, do my
homework, then rush to the library or catch up on more periodicals. I would win
academic competition after competition and even win city-wide art competitions.
Because I was naturally smart and talented? No. I spent hours and hours at the
craft of learning. Years later, I ran 100 marathons over half of them in
3:35 or faster by age 28 marking me as the fastest and youngest Latina in the
world to do so. Because I was naturally fast? No. I spent hours and hours at
the craft of practice. I lost a few toenails in the beginning but they
all grow back. I began to learn what were the habits of the successful.
Interestingly, what I learned was my parents practiced those habits of success
just as the very wealthy figures of our time do. My parents who came with
nothing to this country scrutinized for being immigrants who didn’t speak
English now live comfortably in a small home still working earning moderate
wages. They speak clear English and are very successful in my eyes. They are
not rich in material possessions; but they are wealthy in happiness. I have
learned through working hard and living my passion that happiness is success.

So let me share with you 7 habits of success:

1.WORK HARD. Relentlessly. Life does not reward
lazy. I spent everyday studying and practicing to reach my goals. Everyday, I
visualized and reminded myself of what I was working for and went after it. I
graduated high school with straight A’s for 4 consecutive years at the Top 1%
of my school of 2,500 students. I then applied to every scholarship I could
find. I did it every year, volunteered, and worked part time to pay for
college. I published as an undergrad. I finished it all in 3 years. What was my
reward? I graduated undergrad and graduate school from UCLA with a 4.0
debt-free without any loans in my or my parents’ name. This was my gift to my parents. I didn’t sleep much. I didn’t go out
much after my first year, and there were nights where I cried my soul out because it was hard. But I
didn’t let the color of my skin or my background stop me from earning an
education. I would walk into a hall in the science department at UCLA that
could seat several hundred students and I could count in the palm of my hand
the number of Latinos in the room. It’s a harsh reality that some will have to
work harder than others, but never let that stop you. Never let excuses stop
you from living. Find reasons to keep achieving.

2.BE PERSISTENT. If something doesn’t go your way,
try again and again and again. The greatest inventions and triumphs of our time
didn’t happen on the first try.

3.BE FEARLESS. Have the
courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees. Get out of your
comfort zone, even if it means being uncomfortable. The road less traveled is
sometimes filled with barricades, bumps, and uncharted terrain. But it is on
that road where your character is truly tested — and your personal growth
realized. At times, it hasn’t been easy. Unrealistically high expectations,
unprecedented scrutiny to our race, and what sometimes feels like a chorus of
naysayers rooting for me to fail — all of that only fueled me to be stronger.

Courage will be
required of you on many fronts. Have the courage to seek the truth, speak the
truth, stand up for the under-dog, and to stand up against intolerance — even
if yours is the lone voice doing so. I wanted to make a statement that we as
Latinos can be successful through my academics and athletics. Bring color into
the sciences. Bring color to our sports. Have the courage to trust your gut and
your own moral compass — your innate understanding of right and wrong. Have the
courage to love fearlessly and unconditionally, and don’t compromise that love
because of arrogance or insecurity. And have the courage to accept that you’re
not perfect, nothing is, and no one is — and that’s OK.

4.BE RESILIENT. You will inevitably face
disappointment, loss, and struggles that are, at this moment, inconceivable and
impossible to predict. Loss of a job, loss of love, loss of a family member.
Each will test you and bring you down to your knees. Find the courage to pick
yourself up again and again. Because it will make you stronger.

5.BE PASSIONATE. Do what you
love, even if you don’t love it every day. I decided to pursue a profession
that made me excited to get up in the morning, and that excitement sustained me
through the long hours and the inevitable failures and disappointments. I love
running. I love teaching. I love learning. And I love exploring. I did those as
a child and I aim to still do those as an adult. I’ve been able to combine my
passion for education and fitness into one that has allowed me to explore the
world running to the top of mountains or connecting with a student in my
classroom.

According to a survey
of 75 business leaders with Stanford MBAs, the most important predictor of
success is self-awareness. That means knowing — and accepting — your own
strengths and weaknesses. Look at yourself honestly... understand your
passions, your skills, your temperament, and your limitations.

A Harvard
psychologist named Daniel Gilbert has spent decades studying happiness and he
found that cash and contentment are almost completely disconnected. Sure,
having money gives you one less thing to worry about, but don’t look to it as a
magic ticket.

Winning the lottery
won’t even give you a more positive outlook. According to Dr. Gilbert, six
months after they hit the jackpot, lottery winners are only about as happy as
they were before.

Happiness has much
more to do with your basic constitution, your outlook on life, and loving what
you do. I love to run. I love to learn. What most don’t realize is teaching is
learning. And I’m a lifelong learner.

Your work is
going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied
is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is
to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. If
you find yourself unhappy with your line of work, change it. I have. It’s scary
to start over. But it’s never too late. As with all matters of the heart,
you'll know when you find it. Don't ever settle and don’t ever think it’s too
late to be passionate about what you do.

6.BE OF SERVICE. Service is
better than selfishness, and usually a lot more rewarding. I found my heart to
be warmest when doing missionary trips with UCLA premed students to villages in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Watching families travel through the night barefoot to meet us to receive basic
dental and medical care touched my soul. Never judge those who are less
fortunate or even those who are seemingly better off. Dr. Gilbert has studies
that prove that generous people are also happier people. Keep caring about the
environment, about politics, about women’s rights, about the poor and
disenfranchised, and, most of all, about others. We are in this world together.
Just as someone has helped you be where you are, help others behind you. Caring
gives us purpose.

7. LIVE YOUR LIFE.
Everyday… Life goes by in an instant. In this fast-paced, crazy world, slow
down enough to appreciate the many things you will experience — a puppy’s
smile, your first love, the beautiful symmetry of a blossomed rose, or the embrace of a friend.
As a little 8 year-old, 15 year-old, and now 29 year-old, I still go to my mom
and tell her just live life. Let go of the little worries and come back to them
when you are more at peace and learn to appreciate living each day. I find
myself happiest when the ones I love are happy around me. Our attitude and
perspective on how we approach life goes a very long way.

So those are the 7
habits: Work hard, be persistent, be fearless, resilient, passionate, service others,
and live the little joys and you WILL be successful. As women, we have the
power to change the world with our boundless potential. This morning, I read an
article about a 91 year old woman who ran her first marathon at age 76. She’s
battled cancer twice and earlier this month she ran the San Diego Marathon setting
a NEW world record for the fastest time for 90+ year olds: she finished in 7hrs
& 7min. When asked will you come back next year, she said: “If I am still
alive, I will keep trying……” Her name is Harriette Thompson and she’s from Charlotte, NC. So this goes to show dreaming
big doesn’t end when we’re 18, 30, 50, or even 90… Don’t settle for ordinary.
Strive for your extraordinary. Like my parents told me when I was a child and I
remind even adults to this day: DREAM BIG. WORK HARD. And believe in yourself. Our
potential is endless and continuous, and it is never too late to live your
dream and strive for your unique definition of success.

May you all be
successful. Thank you and Congratulations graduates!

Please email me at Nadia@jive-live.com, if you're interested in booking me at your next event, graduation, or expo.

Sure thing. My email is above if you're interested in booking a motivational speaker. I've done talks for Nutribullet for the LA Marathon Expo, training groups, and commencements. Let me know if I can be of service. Nadia@jive-live.com

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At age 32, Ruiz has completed 132 marathons (69 as Boston Qualifiers), 70 half marathons, 11 ultras, and 5 Ironmans. With a Bachelor's of Science in Biology, Master's of Education, and Teacher's Credential from UCLA, Ruiz works as a Biology Teacher, Coach, and Marketing Consultant for the past 12 years. Through her endurance adventures, she enjoys exploring new countries or climbing mountains near home with her two dogs--Max (8yo labrador) and Bruno (6yo boxer). Need a run/triathlon coach? Email: NadiaCRuiz@yahoo.com.